The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-03
A SUBJECT OF KING COTTON.
Capt. j. A. Peterkiu Thinks That Cotton
Is the Crop for Southern Farmers.

A SUBJECT OF KING COTTON.
Capt. j. A. Peterkiu Thinks That Cotton
is the Crop for Southern Farmers.
In reply to your note requesting me to
say something on the subject of cotton
culture, must say it is hard subject to
advise on, as we are all compelled to
plant it, and probably will be for a long
time. There is nothing better in sight
to take its place. There is no product of
the world more abused, and there is
nothing grown in the word that people
are more attached to than the Southern
farmer is to cotton. We will make it if
we can only get ten cents day for our
labor, and great many are doing well
to do that 1t is far better than doing
nothing or suffering. The labor that
produces cotton could not live without it.
We can make it at FIVE cents per pound,
and will plant a crop with that under.
standing, if We could not do better.
Almost any character Of land in the cot
ton climates that are naturally drained
will make cotton at a paying price, if
properly iertilized and properly cultiva.
ted. No artificial drainage will suit
short staple cotton. That is the great
trouble with many of our farmers; they
are planting lands that are not cotton
lands, also throwing away the profits of
the business for worthless fertilizers.
It is useless to fertilize undrained
lands ior cotton. 1t will grow on almost
any character of lands by high fertilizers
until fruiting time, then the failure and
disappointment comes. The Intensive
system will not do for cotton. Naturally
drained lands, with moderate fertilizing,
require proper distance, (say three-and.a "a.
half feet for rows, and proper cultiya.
tion, twenty inch sweep, and never be
changed for a larger one at any time.
Plant on low beds as early as possible is
the sure way to make paying crop.
Cotton seldom makes large crop two
years in succession. No matter how good
the season or how highly it may be fer
tilized, the Dixon plan of cultivatiDg cot
ton has proven q failure. Furman's
formula is failure for want of material
to make it. Almost every man that
makes a big crop on few acres proves a
failure. They prove failures as soon as
they try it on large scale. They write
long articles and induce others to adopt
their expensive plans, which causes
many poor farmer to bccorae bankrupt.
Cotton at 9 cents per pound is the
highest priced produc: Of the world. We
look for TOO much from it. We expect
to work half of our time, live well, edu.
cate our children, wear fine clothes,
drive fine horses, have fine buggies,
travel on railroads, go to watering places,
go fishing, bird hunting, and drink some
beer, pay doctors bills, taxes, aud high
interest and back debts Ifall of this is.
not done or at least half of it, then cot
ton is to blame for it all.
five can make up our minds to live
within our means, be contented u live
on what we make, and make whst we
live Oh, quit grumbling and abusing cpt.
ton, we would be better off. We should
quit abusing the merchants, for We would
all be merchants if we could. MIST of US
have tried it, and failed at the same
thing we are abusing others for.
Be contented, brother farmer; let
alone politics; plant we'll drained land,
auch as is drained by nature, trade your
seed for meal, buy little acid phosphate
and mix togethe. at home. Too much
acid pushes off ths plant too rapidly and
makes it take on mors fruit than it can
carry through July or August drought,
something that is almost sure to come.
Farmers were never intended to be rich
men. They are hewers of wood and
drawers of water. The world can't get
along without us. With all cur troubles
we arc the bappiest people in the world.
Cotton is the best thing in the world, no
matter what the price is. We can
always buy on credit if we make cotton.
1t induces our people to be honest; we
have to be honest and make cotton to
pet credit. If ne we're doing cash bus
mess we would be selfish and rascas
We teach our children to be honest, so
that they can get credit to make start
in the world. Every cotton farmer that
works, no matter what his color is, can
live on a credit. No other people in the
world can do it. Cotton is king and
ALWAYS will be. J. A. PETERKIN.